A note on the value of studying history: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A note on the value of studying history: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What is the value to business management and housing studies professionals to study world history (ancient and contemporary) with reference to their personal and professional development?"

The reply: "Studying world history (both ancient and contemporary) offers significant value to business management and housing studies professionals by enhancing their personal and professional development through broadening context, critical thinking, and strategic insight.

Key values include:

• Contextual Understanding and Perspective: History provides a broader understanding of how social, economic, and political changes evolve over time. This context helps professionals appreciate the complex environments in which businesses and housing sectors operate, enabling them to anticipate trends and avoid past mistakes, such as economic crises or policy failures.

• Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills: Engaging with history sharpens analytical skills by encouraging professionals to ask why events happened, examine consequences, and evaluate different perspectives. This cultivates the ability to solve complex problems, a crucial skill in business strategy and housing policy development.

• Strategic and Leadership Lessons: Historical examples of leadership and strategy, such as long-term campaigns or negotiations, offer practical insights for contemporary management challenges. Managers can learn from past successes and failures to guide decision-making and innovation.

• Empathy and Global Awareness: Studying diverse histories fosters empathy and cultural competence, which are vital in managing diverse teams and addressing social issues tied to housing and community development.

• Personal Development and Motivation: Understanding history helps individuals comprehend their role within larger social and economic systems, enhancing motivation and a sense of purpose in their professional work.

In sum, business and housing professionals who study history gain a richer understanding of their fields’ dynamics, improve critical and strategic thinking capabilities, and develop a more empathetic and informed approach to leadership and decision-making, benefiting both their personal growth and career effectiveness."

My question 2: "Could you clarify a bit on this topic with reference to critical and strategic thinking development in the real-world business management and housing studies practices in 2025?"

The reply: "In 2025, critical and strategic thinking remain essential and highly valued in real-world business management and housing studies practices, playing a crucial role in decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership in complex and rapidly changing environments.

Key clarifications include:

• Critical Thinking Development: It involves disciplined evaluation of information, identifying biases, considering alternative perspectives, and deriving reasoned conclusions. This skill helps professionals objectively analyze complex situations, challenge assumptions, and innovate with evidence-based solutions. It is not innate but can be cultivated through practice, case studies, simulations, and reflective discussions that mimic real-world business scenarios.

• Strategic Thinking Application: Strategic thinking integrates critical analysis with long-term planning, enabling professionals to forecast outcomes, assess risks, and align decisions with organizational goals. In volatile and ambiguous markets, this skill allows managers to anticipate trends, respond flexibly to disruptions, and drive sustainable initiatives in both business and housing sectors.

• Real-World Practice in Business and Housing: With growing complexity from technology advances and shifting economic conditions, professionals need to move beyond rote knowledge and develop cognitive agility. This includes using problem-based learning, design thinking frameworks, and digital simulations to confront real challenges like financial planning, project management, and community development decisions.

• Leadership and Personal Development: Critical and strategic thinking equip professionals to lead with empathy, communicate effectively, and foster innovation. They support better collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders, which is essential in housing studies where social, economic, and cultural factors intermingle.

In summary, for 2025 business management and housing studies professionals, critical thinking sharpens analytical rigor and evidence-based judgment, while strategic thinking guides purposeful, adaptive actions in complex real-world contexts. Together, these competencies enhance both personal and professional effectiveness in dynamic work environments."

My question 3: "To be more explicit, how does learning world history could help these professionals improve their critical and strategic thinking in the context of 2025?"

The reply: "Learning world history helps business management and housing studies professionals improve their critical and strategic thinking in the 2025 context by providing a broad, interdisciplinary perspective crucial to sound decision-making and problem-solving in complex environments.

Specifically:

• Critical Thinking Enhancement: World history encourages questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and understanding diverse viewpoints by exposing professionals to various social, economic, and political developments over time. This deepens analytical rigor needed to identify biases, recognize patterns, and challenge simplistic explanations, which are essential skills to navigate the complexity of business and housing challenges today.

• Strategic Insight from Historical Patterns: Understanding long-term historical trends, such as economic cycles, social movements, and policy impacts, develops foresight and scenario planning capabilities. This helps professionals anticipate market shifts, regulatory changes, or housing demand fluctuations and design innovative, adaptive strategies aligned with organizational goals.

• Contextual Awareness for Decision-Making: History embeds decision-making in real-world contexts, where multiple factors—cultural, ethical, economic—intersect. This holistic understanding supports better risk assessment, stakeholder analysis, and long-term planning, moving beyond short-term fixes to sustainable solutions.

• Application in Real-World Practice: By analyzing case studies from different eras and regions, professionals cultivate cognitive agility to respond effectively to today's dynamic environments using evidence-based judgment. This practice hones skills to resolve unforeseen problems proactively, a key critical thinking habit in 2025 management and housing professions.

In summary, studying world history enriches the critical thinking framework by fostering analytical depth and cultural empathy, while supporting strategic thinking through lessons on change, innovation, and sustainability—all pivotal for business management and housing professionals tackling 2025’s complex challenges."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

A note on life and career success for aging professionals in Hong Kong

A note on life and career success for aging professionals in Hong Kong (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "With human being having a longer lifespan and in good health for a longer period of time, what should a professional in business management and housing studies consider to define "success" in life and career at the age of 65, with reference to the context of Hong Kong?"

The reply: "In the context of Hong Kong, where people live longer and generally maintain better health for extended periods, professionals in business management and housing studies should consider a broader and more nuanced definition of "success" in life and career at age 65. The traditional benchmarks focused solely on retirement or financial accumulation are evolving due to increased longevity, quality of life considerations, and societal changes.

Key considerations for defining success at age 65 in Hong Kong include:

1. Health and Active Ageing
   Success involves maintaining good health and active participation in society. Hong Kong prioritizes "active ageing" with age-friendly environments that promote security, health, participation, independence, and access to affordable and accessible housing and employment opportunities for older adults. Aging in place—the ability to live in one’s own home with adequate support—is a major preference among seniors, contributing to their quality of life.

2. Continued Economic and Social Engagement
   Many seniors in Hong Kong continue working past traditional retirement ages, not only for financial reasons but also for mental stimulation and social inclusion. Opportunities for flexible work arrangements and retraining programs contribute to this trend, allowing seniors to sustain a sense of purpose and value in their careers and communities.

3. Meaningful Career and Life Achievements
   Success goes beyond financial stability to include satisfaction from meaningful work and life contributions. This could mean mentoring younger generations, engaging in community service, or finding new vocational passions. Career success is thus seen as a combination of financial security, doing fulfilling work, and achieving personal satisfaction.

4. Housing and Living Environment
   With high living costs and an aging population, suitable housing that caters to seniors’ needs—such as senior housing that allows supportive community living while preserving independence—forms a critical part of success. Given Hong Kong’s urban density and evolving family structures, housing solutions that combat social isolation and provide health support are vital for holistic well-being.

5. Quality of Life and Socioeconomic Equity
   Studies show increasing health challenges and socioeconomic disparities among older adults in Hong Kong. Thus, success at 65 must integrate measures of quality of life, including access to healthcare, social services, and an environment supporting healthy and equitable ageing.

In summary, at age 65 in Hong Kong, defining "success" in life and career for a business management and housing studies professional involves embracing a multidimensional view: maintaining health and independence, continuing meaningful social and economic roles, achieving personal satisfaction, securing age-appropriate and supportive housing, and addressing quality of life amid socioeconomic factors. This holistic approach reflects the realities of greater longevity and the vibrant, active lives many seniors lead today in Hong Kong."

My question 2: "In their 60s, these professionals most likely have a lower employability with the present labour market in Hong Kong, what participation options can be explored to participate in meaningful social and economic roles for them, given the criteria of life and career success are also different? Any advice?"

The reply: "For professionals in their 60s in Hong Kong facing lower employability in the current labor market, meaningful social and economic participation can still be achieved through various options tailored to their unique life and career success criteria:

1. Employment Support and Retraining Programs
   Hong Kong's Labour Department offers dedicated services for elderly job seekers, including priority registration, job matching, career guidance, and retraining courses. Programs like the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) incentivize employers to hire workers aged 60 and above by providing wage subsidies and on-the-job training allowances. These initiatives help older professionals secure flexible or part-time jobs suited to their skills and experience while adapting to changing market demands.

2. Silver Economy and Entrepreneurship
   The Hong Kong government recognizes the economic potential of the "silver economy," encouraging seniors to participate as consumers and workers. With increasing demand for products and services tailored for older adults, professionals can explore entrepreneurship or consultancy roles targeting this growing market segment, leveraging their expertise in business management or housing studies.

3. Volunteering and Civic Engagement
   Social participation through volunteering allows seniors to contribute meaningfully to their communities, such as mentoring younger generations or supporting community centers. This engagement promotes a sense of purpose, social inclusion, and mental well-being, aligning with broader definitions of career and life success beyond paid employment.

4. Community-based and Leisure Activities
   Numerous programs and centers provide leisure, cultural, and social activities specifically for older adults, enhancing their health and social networks. Active participation in such community initiatives supports continuous learning and personal growth, which are important for holistic success.

5. Flexible and Contract Work
   Contract and part-time roles are increasingly viable options for older professionals who seek work-life balance and continued economic participation. Many employers in Hong Kong now hire contract professionals, including those over 60, to meet project-based needs, benefiting from their seasoned expertise without long-term commitments.

6. Government and NGO Support Services
   Besides employment, a range of social services such as employment counseling, group activities, post-placement support, and online platforms is available through government and non-government organizations. These resources help seniors transition from full-time careers to diversified roles that combine work, learning, and community involvement.

In sum, professionals in business management and housing studies in their 60s can explore a mix of paid employment, entrepreneurial ventures, volunteering, and community participation to fulfill evolving success criteria. By leveraging government incentives, retraining opportunities, and the growing silver economy, they can maintain meaningful roles that contribute economically and socially while enjoying quality of life at this stage."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.